[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 96 (Monday, June 8, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H3933-H3934]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
GOVERNMENT AUDIT AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF FEDERALLY FUNDED STATE-
ADMINISTERED PROGRAMS ACT
Mr. GILL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass
the bill (H.R. 8107) to require the establishment of a list identifying
program areas and administrative practices presenting the greatest risk
to the integrity of Federal funds administered by States and local
governments, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 8107
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Government Audit and
Accountability of Federally Funded State-Administered
Programs Act''.
SEC. 2. FEDERALLY-FUNDED STATE-ADMINISTERED PROGRAMS
VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT.
(a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and periodically thereafter, the
Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to
Congress an assessment of program areas and administrative
practices that present the greatest risk to the integrity of
Federal funds administered by State and local governments and
pass-through entities subject to audit under chapter 75 of
title 31, United States Code.
(b) Contents.--Each assessment required by subsection (a)
shall--
(1) identify program areas and administrative practices at
the Federal, State, and local level that present systematic
vulnerabilities in the administration of Federal funds by
State and local governments, including practices that are
more susceptible to waste, fraud, abuse, and improper
payments;
(2) assess evidence-based best practices and strategies
that have strengthened the integrity of Federal funds
administered by State and local governments and reduced
waste, fraud, and abuse in Federally-funded programs;
(3) assess program areas and administrative practices at
the Federal, State, and local level that--
(A) have demonstrated effectiveness in mitigating waste,
fraud, abuse, and improper payments; or
(B) have shown limited effectiveness in reducing such
risks;
(4) identify Federal tools, resources, and technical
assistance available to State and local governments and how
such tools may be improved to prevent and mitigate the
systemic vulnerabilities identified under paragraph (1); and
(5) include recommendations to Federal agencies and matters
for consideration to Congress to address and improve the
program areas and administrative practices identified under
paragraph (1), including recommendations to improve
eligibility determination and enrollment processes to
mitigate risks.
(c) Sources.--
(1) Audit and related materials.--In carrying out the
preparation of the assessment under subsection (a), the
Comptroller General shall rely, to the extent practicable, on
existing oversight, audit, and investigative materials to
conduct an analysis of Federal funds administrated by State
and local governments, which may include--
(A) any finding of a Federal, State, or local auditor,
comptroller, treasurer, inspector general, attorney general,
or any other similar official with respect to the
administration of such funds;
(B) any audit required under section 7502 of title 31,
United States Code; and
(C) any other publicly available Federal, State, or local
oversight and program integrity data.
(2) Additional materials.--In preparing each assessment
required by subsection (a), the Comptroller General may
supplement the materials described in paragraph (1) with
additional analysis and new audit work, including by drawing
on prior and ongoing work, where such materials are
insufficient to assess the program areas and administrative
practices identified under subsection (b)(1).
(d) Form and Methodology.--The Comptroller General shall
determine the appropriate form and methodology for preparing
and submitting each assessment required by subsection (a).
(e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Improper payment.--The term ``improper payment'' has
the meaning given that term in section 3351(4) of title 31,
United States Code.
(2) State.--The term ``State'' has the meaning given that
term in section 6720(a)(4) of title 31, United States Code.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Gill) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Subramanyam) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
general leave
Mr. GILL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. GILL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8107, the Government Audit and
Accountability of Federally Funded State-Administered Programs Act.
The reforms of H.R. 8107 represent a long-overdue step to ensure that
Congress is fully informed about fraud risks in Federal programs
administered at the State level.
This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to assess
program areas and administrative practices that present the greatest
risk to the integrity of federally funded programs administered by
States and local governments.
This assessment will bring together the typical program-specific
assessments to help Congress and other officials better identify common
risks. With this information, Congress can bolster its oversight of
agencies' and States' efforts to efficiently mitigate fraud risks,
including through payment integrity controls.
This legislation will better position Congress to assist Federal
agencies and State and local governments to obtain the fraud prevention
and investigative resources that they require.
[[Page H3934]]
I thank my Oversight and Government Reform Committee colleagues
Congressmen Ro Khanna and Tim Burchett for championing this helpful
legislation that will help lawmakers understand State-level program
risks and inform future fraud prevention reforms.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bipartisan and
commonsense bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, I also rise in support of H.R. 8107,
the Government Audit and Accountability of Federally Funded State-
Administered Programs Act.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr.
Khanna).
Mr. KHANNA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the House taking up the Government Audit
and Accountability of Federally Funded State-Administered Programs Act.
It is a long way of saying that this is a bill to go after fraud.
I thank Congressman Tim Burchett for his partnership on this
bipartisan legislation. I also thank Chairman Comer; Ranking Member
Garcia; Congressman Gill; Congressman Subramanyam; my staff lead,
Selene Ceja; and Kevin Fox, my legislative director, for their help in
advancing this effort.
The bill is straightforward. It directs the Government Accountability
Office to conduct an independent review of Federal programs that States
administer on behalf of working families.
Congress has a responsibility to ensure that every tax dollar reaches
the people and communities these programs are intended to serve. To do
that, we need facts, data, and evidence.
The legislation helps us better understand how these programs operate
across States where vulnerabilities may exist, what practices are
working, and what improvements Congress should consider to stop fraud.
At its core, the bill is about prevention, accountability, and good
governance. By directing the GAO to identify effective tools, technical
assistance, and proven practices, we can help States strengthen program
administration before problems occur, and it applies to all 50 States,
so there is no politics in it.
The families who rely on these programs deserve services that are
efficient, reliable, accessible, and protected.
Tackling fraud is not a partisan issue. Congress needs to continue
bipartisan, evidence-based efforts to better understand how Federal
funds flow through State-administered programs and how we can
strengthen those systems.
I recognize Congressman Tim Burchett for his extraordinary leadership
and partnership here. This bill gives us the information we need to
make informed decisions and strengthen the public trust.
Mr. GILL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the great
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Burchett).
Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate your abilities at short stop,
as well.
I thank Mr. Ro Khanna for his kind words. I have never heard the
words ``extraordinary leadership'' attached to the named Tim Burchett
before, and I thank the gentleman for that. I thank the gentleman also
for including me in this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I rise, of course, in support of the bipartisan
Government Audit and Accountability of Federally Funded State-
Administered Programs Act.
This bill directs the Comptroller General, or our good friends at the
Government Accountability Office, to produce recurring assessments of
federally funded State-administered programs.
This report will compare trends across States and identify programs
and administrative practices most vulnerable to waste, fraud, and abuse
in State and local administration of Federal funds.
Every year, approximately $1.1 trillion of taxpayer dollars are
administered by State and local governments. The money is administered
with little or no oversight from the Federal Government.
How many times have we heard that we need to audit those folks? This
does just that. By requiring the GAO to monitor and report on trends
across States, we will begin to see which administrative practices are
most vulnerable to waste, fraud, and abuse.
Recently, I have seen fraud run rampant at all levels of government.
It is time that we mandate oversight so that the American people know
where their taxpayer dollars are going.
Mr. Speaker, we have an obligation to our constituents to protect
their hard-earned money. We have an obligation to make sure that
government is working for the people. We have an obligation to actually
do something, dadgummit, to rid government of waste, fraud, and abuse.
It starts today with voting ``yes'' on this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend Representative Ro Khanna for his
support in rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse, and I urge my
colleagues to pass this bipartisan piece of legislation.
Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time
for the purpose of closing.
Mr. Speaker, this bill is an important step toward preventing fraud
and improper payments before they happen. I urge my colleagues to
support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GILL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my
time.
Mr. Speaker, approximately $1.1 trillion of taxpayer dollars are
administered annually by State and local governments with little to no
comprehensive and recurring oversight from the Federal Government or
Congress.
H.R. 8107 would require the Government Accountability Office to study
the specific risks associated with federally funded State-administered
programs and enable Congress to track emerging fraud patterns before
they become billion-dollar scandals.
Mr. Speaker, I, therefore, encourage my colleagues to support the
Government Audit and Accountability of Federally Funded State-
Administered Programs Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gill) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 8107, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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